At the 4th round of the United Nations Global Plastics Treaty negotiations in Ottawa, Canada (INC-4), a wide range of youth activists from around the globe were in attendance. Surfrider Club Network Staff had the chance to sit down with 8 youth activists spanning 6 different countries/territories to discuss their perspectives and stories regarding youth activism and plastic reduction. Each respondent got to choose from 2-3 questions that they felt most passionate about answering.
Aeshnina Azzahara, Indonesia
17 Years Old, @aeshnina
Why is it important for youth voices to be represented at INC-4?
"The youth are a very vulnerable group, and we are the ones who will feel the impacts in the future if our environment keeps getting exploited by the overproduction of single-use plastics. We as youth and children have the right to live in a safe, clean, plastic-free environment. It is simply our basic right, so it's important for youth to speak up at INC-4."
How has your country been impacted by plastic pollution?
"In Indonesia, we import paper waste from developed countries, but unfortunately it is often smuggled full of plastic waste on top of other plastic imports. It is confusing for me because we have always looked up to developed countries as role models, so I don't understand why they continue to send plastic waste to developing countries when we are unable to manage our own plastic waste. I've learned that developed countries do this because recycling is very hard, so they just send their plastic to other countries like Indonesia. The plastic waste often gets dumped in our villages or on river banks. The villagers sort through the plastic to try and sell scraps, but it's really dangerous for the workers. It also pollutes the rivers with waste and microplastics, so many people cannot drink from the rivers anymore."
What is your message to other youth activists?
"I hope that we can live our dream of a plastic pollution-free environment. We can have clean air, we can play on beautiful beaches, forests, and rivers free from plastic waste. We have to stay optimistic, be really strong, and hope that this treaty helps effectively solve our plastic pollution problem."
Ashton Hawkins, United Kingdom
13 Years Old, @hiddenplastic_org
Why is it important for youth voices to be represented at INC-4?
"Youth are less than half of the world's population, but we are 100% of the future! All of the decisions made today will impact our generation and the next."
What is your message to other youth activists?
"You don't have to be asked to jump in, you can just go ahead and make a difference one step at a time. Any action toward the goal of creating change is important. You can write a letter to your government, sign a petition, or start an organization. You just have to say you want to make a change, and it can happen. We all have the power!"
Audrey Gregg, United States
Why is it important for youth voices to be represented at INC-4?
"It is important for youth voices to be represented at INC-4 because we are simply the next generation to tackle the complicated series of issues that challenge INC-4 and the plastic crisis. The youths' voices must be acknowledged because they pose questions and ideas that the older generations may not be concerned with or prioritized."
How has your country been impacted by plastic pollution?
"I am an American, specifically from California. I’d say the United States has been successful in concealing the realities of plastic pollution from their citizens. The U.S. is the largest plastic producer in the world, and yet they practice “out of sight, out of mind” by shipping their plastics to be recycled across the globe, when only a fraction gets recycled or even makes it to the destination. I think the U.S. has suffered from plastic pollution from the mass amounts of litter that ends up in waterways, and ultimately the ocean. The U.S. is made up of a consumerist society, so plastics are everywhere; in our clothes, soils, food, and ultimately, us. I think U.S. citizens are starting to see the effects of plastics as an endocrine disruptor as microplastics are being found in everything."
What is your message to other youth activists?
"My advice to other young activists is to try to find a like-minded community who care about the movements you are passionate about. Other activists are out there, wanting to collaborate and make a difference. It is much easier and more enjoyable to work towards a greener world when you have friends to do it with and support each other along the way."
Dejea Lyons, Cayman Islands
Why is it important for youth voices to be represented at INC-4?
"I think my question is, why not? As youth, this is our future and I think it's so important for us to have a say in how that future is going to be constructed. The representation of youth at INC-4 goes beyond this event because we need to have a hand in the kitchen if we want to help influence the legislation creating our future."
How has your country been impacted by plastic pollution?
"I want to start by saying that I am from The Cayman Islands, which are in the Caribbean for those who may not know. Plastic pollution is a huge challenge for island communities, as plastic pollution can easily wash onshore. Most of the time, it is not our people creating the plastic, as it is coming from other islands or countries that are huge plastic producers and polluters. Plastic is affecting the way our beaches look, and impacting the ecosystems and biodiversity beneath the surface, such as our coral reefs. Plastic pollution also negatively impacts our economy and tourism, since visitors expect pristine coastal conditions. Overall, it is quite literally, a big mess."
Diego Arreola Fernandez, Mexico
@diegoarreolaf @green.speaking
Why is it important for youth voices to be represented at INC-4?
"Youth don't have any hidden motivations, constraints, or politics happening behind the scenes. Young people have immense willpower and energy to get things done, and we aren't interested in putting profit over human rights, ecosystem health, or coastal communities. Our incentive is to create real change. There is a major problem with the excessive production of single-use plastics and the rate at which it's being consumed, without any extended producer responsibility. Young people know that there are solutions that can be implemented to stop the production of single-use plastic and reduce conflict of interest lobbying. We want positive and genuine plastic treaty negotiations that are based on human rights and environmental conservation."
What is your message to other youth activists?
"There are so many ways in which you can create change, so start as soon as you can! There are a lot of issues to focus on, which can feel like a humongous undertaking, but you can counter that within your community and at your school. Find the resources and community you need to learn about what's happening and then leverage solutions. There are so many approaches that you can take, so tap into your strengths and your contacts to create change. If we can all do that, then problems can be solved."
Opeyemi Oluwafemi Ajala, Nigeria
Why is it important for youth voices to be represented at INC-4?
"In this kind of setting, where negotiations are happening with many political leaders, it is very important to have youth representation. Speaking for myself, as someone who has had the opportunity to attend these high-level events, I think having a youth presence keeps governments in check and reminds them that we are here to hold them responsible since we have the energy and capacity to demand real change. Youth make up the larger percentage of the entire population, so there are many ways in which plastic pollution affects us the most. The youth is not just the present, but we are also the future. If countries cannot protect their future, then a lot is at stake. As Nigerian youth, we are watching the outcomes of this event, so we can remind our government that we are waiting for actions to be implemented back at home."
How has your country been impacted by plastic pollution?
"Nigeria has several crude oil and gas refineries, and plastic is one of the main byproducts from these types of facilities. As a country that depends on crude oil as a large part of our economy, we unfortunately have a lot of pollution from its production. For example, we are seeing toxic chemical residues that exist in the air as well as oil spills in the ocean. Inland communities also struggle with the production of plastic waste which negatively affects the health of individuals who live in those environments. In my personal view, as someone who has been impacted both directly and indirectly by plastic pollution, the government needs to find better mechanisms to mitigate the ongoing pollution from plastic in our environment."
What is your message to other youth activists?
"In every field that you find yourself as a young person, use that field for positive advocacy. Portray the kind of example that you wish to pass across to others. Don't forget that your voice is very important, and all of the governments across the world know this. Your voice is your power, so don't let anyone shut your voice down. Make use of your voice for positive change in whatever country you find yourself in."
Robin Okunowo, United States
@yourlocalsuperhero @captainplanetfdn
Why is it important for youth voices to be represented at INC-4?
"It's really important for youth voices to be represented at INC-4 specifically because of the different dynamics and operational ways that our generation solves problems. We've been doing business as usual for too long, so a lot of the negotiations aren't bringing in new perspectives, but the youth can provide that."
What is your message to other youth activists?
"My main advice would be to find your champions. It often feels like you have to do a lot of this work alone and sometimes it feels like you're swimming upstream when you're dealing with big problems, but you are not alone. There are other youth fighting for the same things you are, and there are organizations such as the Captain Planet Foundation or Surfrider Foundation that can give you the tools, resources, and community you need to be successful. Find your fellow champions and make it happen so you don't have to do this alone."
Zara Hawkins, United Kingdom
15 Years Old @hiddenplastic_org
Why is it important for youth voices to be represented at INC-4?
"Children and youth make up almost half of the population, and once decisions are made, our generation will have to deal with the consequences. As far as we know, there are only four under 18-year-old attendees at INC-4, and there are over 190 petrochemical lobbyists which is crazy!"
How has your country been impacted by plastic pollution?
"The UK is a very wealthy country, but we are shipping a lot of our waste abroad. My brother and I have taken the time to write to our government on this issue, and although we got a response back, it seems like they avoided this question altogether. The UK has a lot of waste infrastructure and we don't always see the waste firsthand, so people don't think it's a problem. However, the reality is that we're just shipping our plastic problem to other countries."
What is your message to other youth activists?
"Start small, and just know that whatever you're doing can grow if you want it to! You deserve to be at the table and in spaces that you're passionate about. I've learned that there is no point in waiting until we're grown up to make a difference since it can often be more powerful when you're young. Being a youth voice is like having a special power."